I'm interested to see how long a conversation can last on Chocky before one climber puts down, slags off, or whines about another fellow climber. I'd like to use this little experiment to see what our chances are of ever being taken seriously as a united sporting group. Aaaand let the games BEGIN!!!

That is an interesting point you raise Ben. While I do myself hold a slightly different opinin I respect where you are coming from and appreciate there are many different points of view on the matter. I would be interested to hear more and perhaps gain a new perspective...

Doesn't look very promising, does it? It's a shame because it strongly suggests there's not really any such thing as a "rock climbing community" here in Oz. It seems our climbing "community" unfortunately consists of quite a few self-important individuals who are rather prone to "tall poppy syndrome" and who would rather spend time boasting and arguing about how much better their knowledge, choices, achievements and testicular circumferences are, rather than being supportive, caring and happy for one another regardless of ability, style, boldness or any other differences. The more I discover the about the attitudes present in my chosen sport, the less proud I feel to be a climber and the more I feel like walking away. It's little wonder that our superstars find other countries so attractive.

I honestly think the forums don't really represent real life. I've been to heaps of crags with the worst of the worst on these forums and its always been civil - actually a lot better than just civil - fun! Everyone gets along when they are actually climbing together. Most of the bitterness probably comes from people who WANT to be climbing - but instead are sitting on the internet (injured, bad weather or at work).

On 30/01/2013 macey wrote:>Doesn't look very promising, does it? It's a shame because it strongly>suggests there's not really any such thing as a "rock climbing community">here in Oz. It seems our climbing "community" unfortunately consists of>quite a few self-important individuals who are rather prone to "tall poppy>syndrome" and who would rather spend time boasting and arguing about how>much better their knowledge, choices, achievements and testicular circumferences>are, rather than being supportive, caring and happy for one another regardless>of ability, style, boldness or any other differences. The more I discover>the about the attitudes present in my chosen sport, the less proud I feel>to be a climber and the more I feel like walking away. It's little wonder>that our superstars find other countries so attractive.

So....just out of interest....would you consider your post bitching? What a beautiful load of drivel.

I reckon Neil is on the money. I mean I'm a total wanker on the internet, and totally opposite in reality.

On 30/01/2013 macey wrote:>Doesn't look very promising, does it? It's a shame because it strongly>suggests there's not really any such thing as a "rock climbing community">here in Oz. It seems our climbing "community" unfortunately consists of>quite a few self-important individuals who are rather prone to "tall poppy>syndrome" and who would rather spend time boasting and arguing about how>much better their knowledge, choices, achievements and testicular circumferences>are, rather than being supportive, caring and happy for one another regardless>of ability, style, boldness or any other differences. The more I discover>the about the attitudes present in my chosen sport, the less proud I feel>to be a climber and the more I feel like walking away. It's little wonder>that our superstars find other countries so attractive.

Another thing that really shits me about your whole concept is that the very idea and sense of community was born first and foremost from division, hence the need to unite. I think that you are passionate about something you cannot comprehend or explain.

You got mildly trolled trolling and make all sorts of strange generalisations and arrive at "superstars find other countries so attractive".

I reckon that the rock climbing community is the best of any little sattellite communties that I've come across in the last 25 years. By far.

99% of the aggro on chocky is due to the following reasons;
1) boredom
2) people talking shite with their mates
3) people taking the piss out of others who take themselves to seriously.

I remember reading an article in an overseas mag by a visiting climber back in the 80's or 90's. She observed that in the Pines you could be as horrible as you liked as long as you said it with a smile on your face.

This is a cultural trait that doesn't translate to the internet very well. If you read between the lines most of the confontational stuff is actually entertaining and educational.

On 30/01/2013 macey wrote:>Doesn't look very promising, does it? It's a shame because it strongly>suggests there's not really any such thing as a "rock climbing community">here in Oz. It seems our climbing "community" unfortunately consists of>quite a few self-important individuals who are rather prone to "tall poppy>syndrome" and who would rather spend time boasting and arguing about how>much better their knowledge, choices, achievements and testicular circumferences>are, rather than being supportive, caring and happy for one another regardless>of ability, style, boldness or any other differences. The more I discover>the about the attitudes present in my chosen sport, the less proud I feel>to be a climber and the more I feel like walking away. It's little wonder>that our superstars find other countries so attractive.

Yeah Macey, Neil's on the money. I wouldn't read too much into chockstone. The % of Vic climbers on chocky is very small. Those who can, climb; those who can't post...

You sure Macey wasn't trolling? Really, this thread was asking for it ....

I think it's very naive to expect any community to be all sweetness and nice. Climbers in Australia are more numerous and more diverse than they have ever been. It's not really one singular closeknit community at all. Of course, all those people aren't going to be to your taste. And it's even more naive to think that overseas climbing scenes are going to be any more sweetness and nice. If you take the internet as an example, you'll notice US and UK forums are rife with as much shît as chockstone. Those communities are even larger and less closeknit and certainly I've bumped into plenty of egotists, dickheads, arseholes, raging conservatives and complete loonies whilst climbing on 4 different continents. Fortunately, i've also met plenty of fun, friendly, caring and considerate sorts as well. And a fair few just plain nondescript. Sorry if I just blew your bubble. People are people. Some of them suck. Some of them do things that suck sometimes. Some of them have ways of communicating you don't like or a sense of humour you don't get. No need to carry on like a pork chop about it ruining climbing for you. Climbing is still climbing and you can always choose who you do it with. Like sex, you know. You don't have to do it with someone unless you'd actually like to do it with them.

I guess you're right. And Neil has a good point also. Things said on forums don't necessarily follow thru into the real world, and those that do are not usually the little trivial things said on posts like these. It's just interesting to note though, in about 15 or so replies to this topic, about half of them have been somewhat "heated". The whole point of my post was to see how long we could all be nice and respectful to each other. Just a bit of light hearted fun really. :-)

On 30/01/2013 macey wrote:>Things said on forums don't necessarily follow thru into the real world, and those that do are>not usually the little trivial things said on posts like these. It's just>interesting to note though, in about 15 or so replies to this topic, about>half of them have been somewhat "heated". The whole point of my post was>to see how long we could all be nice and respectful to each other. Just>a bit of light hearted fun really. :-)

I wonder if this flavour will permeate through to the imminent bolt chopping wars soon to begin?
... As you said earlier...>let the games BEGIN!!!

On 30/01/2013 nmonteith wrote:>I honestly think the forums don't really represent real life. I've been>to heaps of crags with the worst of the worst on these forums and its always>been civil - actually a lot better than just civil - fun!

I've noticed that too, butI honestly think the forums do really represent real life. I've been climbing at heaps of crags with the nicest of the nice and its always been boring as batshit.